Mediasonic SU2LA Dual Bay RAID + NAS Review

Exterior Impressions


Just as the box that the HUR1-SU2LA is shipped in is similar to the other HUR1 model boxes, so is the enclosure itself very similar to them as well. Even though this enclosure has very different specifications than those of the other models, there is nothing to readily distinguish them apart from one another upon first glance.

The case itself is made of plastic with aluminum side panels and while the metal is not overly thick it does not feel weak or fragile. The case is also surprisingly thin and not much larger than many single bay drive enclosures that we have seen in the past. However, when one considers the price range of the SU2LA model it would have been reasonable to expect a completely metal enclosure. More puzzling still it is advertised on Mediasonic’s website as being made of aluminum or at the very least it infers an all aluminum enclosure. In their own words “Aluminum is an obvious choice when it comes to constructing a quality hard drive enclosure”, so why did they make it partially out of plastic?

On the positive side the exterior of the enclosure has a very nice and refined gray and black color scheme. This use of neutral colours allows the enclosure to blend seamlessly in with any background. I was very impressed with the inclusion of bright information LEDs on the front of the unit. With a simple glance you can quickly ascertain if the unit is on, has a good network connection, the condition of the hard drives in the enclosure, if they are active and even if the enclosure is rebuilding its array. Overall it is a fast and concise way of telling you exactly what is happening at any given moment…and once again is almost a direct carry over from the other HUR1 models with just minor “tweaking” to make it work for a NAS enclosure.


Also on a positive note, the unit has 4 small rubber feet on the bottom of the enclosure and this makes for secure mounting when placed on a desk. A minor annoyance is that you cannot lay the unit on its side since with its slippery aluminum sides it has a tendency to slip and slide around on a desk. Hopefully, this unit will not have the same connection issues that the FireWire model had that necessitated us using that model on its side.


Just as the front is for information display, the back is where all the various connection options, an on/off switch and even a 40mm exhaust fan are located. This is a very well executed layout with everything clearly labeled and unlike the interior does not feel cramped or cluttered.

In general this unit has all the positives and all the negatives of the previous two models we tested. Mediasonic has made a very nice looking unit, just a unit that has a few minor quirks. Or as I put it in the last Mediasonic review: “Overall…. (they all) look good and would fit equally well with any décor.”